Is the Battle for Newport Senate Seat the Preview to 2018 Elections in RI?

Thursday, July 20, 2017

GoLocalProv News Team

On one side is a Progressive Democratic candidate fresh off an upset win over the old school Democrats for the seat of Teresa Paiva Weed. Dawn Euer looks to take up the mantle of the Bernie Sanders faction of the party and is riding the resources and organizational apparatus of the ever more formidable Working Families political group to drive her campaign. Getting lost behind is the Democratic party of Hillary Clinton and Speaker Nick Mattiello.

On the other side is the popular and affable Mike Smith. He has run twice before — coming within striking distance in 2016 when he challenged Representative Lauren Carson, and in 2014 when he faced Paiva Weed for District 13, which represents both Newport and Jamestown. 

In 2016, which saw both President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders prevail in their respective primaries in Rhode Island, it was the Working Familes juggernaut that claimed victory in eight General Assembly races in the general election - and Republican Steve Frias who took Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello to mail-in ballots, coming within a hundred votes of victory.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

So who will appeal to the voters of Newport and Jamestown this August - and will it be a sign of things to come next November?

GOP Calls Out "Special Interests"

 “The differences between the two major candidates in this race are stark," said Republican operative and Smith campaign member Luis Vargas. "On one side you have the very far left candidate, who has had tens of thousands of special interest money spent on her behalf. On the other side you have the small business owner/common-sense moderate candidate who just wants government to run efficiently so that families and businesses can afford to establish themselves and thrive in Jamestown and Newport.”
 
“Regardless of if Mike Smith wins or loses, he is the exact candidate that the GOP needs to run in every Rhode Island race: a hardworking voice of reason who is invested in and focused entirely on their community," Vargas continued. "His message has certainly resonated with Republicans and Democrats statewide, which is why we have volunteers from across the state and political spectrum coming every weekend to help canvass, but his entire focus is on Jamestown and Newport and what is best for Rhode Island. “ 

Smith's campaign team echoed Vargas' sentiments in a recent Facebook post. 

"The extremists have hijacked most moderate, common sense Democrats and chose the candidate they think can best continue to the tradition of taxing and spending our state to the brink," states the ad. 

Progressives v. Dems v. GOP

The Progressives, however, are bolstered by not just the recent Euer victory -- but the Ward 3 City Council one as well. 

"We feel Rhode Island is a strong center of Progressive values. These two victories along with the many Progressive victories last cycle (including Bernie Sander's primary victory) show the Democratic base in Rhode Island is rooted in progressivism," said Rhode Island Progressive Democrats of America (RIPDA) Chair Bill DeWare, noting the recent win of Nirva Rebecca LaFortune in the Providence City Council ward 3 special election. 

"It is our sincere hope our elected Democrats realize this sooner than later so we can show the country what Rhode Island can accomplish," said DeWare. "We look forward to passing things such as earned sick time, college for all, minimum wage increases and codifying women's reproductive Rights into state law soon. 

RIPDA Political Director Capri Catanzaro, who worked on now State Senator Jeanine Calkin's successful run last fall in unseating Senate President Pro-Temp Bill Walaska

"Despite substantial establishment opposition, district 13 democrats have sided with not only a pro-choice candidate but a pro-choice woman as their state senate nominee. Euer's victory is yet another message to the establishment that Rhode Islanders want change within the Democratic Party. Electing a woman committed to fighting for women's reproductive rights and common-sense gun safety reform would be a victory for all," said Catanazaro.

Forget Democrat versus Republican, the dynamic now in 2018 is old-school Democrat vs. Progressive vs. Republican - and often independents. 

"If one thing is for sure, Rhode Islanders have increasingly demanded more from their legislators and their democrats. The old boys club tradition is not popular anymore among district 13 voters, and neither are conservative political values," said Catanzaro. "In the next month we expect to see Newport and Jamestown voters demand a legislator with strong Democratic values and an independent voice who is willing to rock the boat in order to serve her constituents."

SLIDES: 2016 Progressive Races to Watch in RI

---

Related Slideshow: Races to Watch in 2016 - RI Progressive Democrats

Related Articles

• Women’s Fund Honored Paiva Weed, a State Insect Will be Named: This Week at the Statehouse
• GoLocalTV: Raimondo, Mattiello & Paiva Weed Take ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
• Mattiello, Paiva Weed Lead Rhode Island Delegation Trip to Israel
• Sail Newport Honors Teresa Paiva Weed & Janet Coit
• Paiva Weed, Ruggerio Re-Elected Legislative Leaders
• Mattiello and Paiva Weed Say Vote Yes on Question 4 for URI
• Fox, Paiva Weed Re-Elected Legislative Leaders
• Paiva Weed Calls For DMV for Aquidneck Island
• NEW: Paiva Weed Backs Civil Unions
• NEW: Paiva Weed Will Be Senate President Again
• Could Paiva Weed be the Next President of RIC?
• Paiva Weed Blasted for Taking Donations from 38 Studios Defendants
• NEW: Euer Announces Candidacy for Paiva Weed’s Senate Seat
• Is Raimondo’s College Plan Dead? Paiva Weed’s Departure, Trump and CPAs’ Opposition
• LIVE: Newport’s Florez Talks Marijuana, Economy & More, in Race for Paiva Weed’s Senate Seat
• NEW: Allard Announces Candidacy for Paiva Weed’s Senate Seat
• Newport’s Florez Announces Candidacy for Senate Seat Vacated by Paiva Weed
• Paiva Weed Made it Official - She Resigns to Go to Hospital Association
• Meet the Candidates: Sen. Teresa Paiva Weed
• With Paiva Weed Out, Balance of State Power Shifts
• Guest MINDSETTER™ Stewart: Progressives Should Refuse to be Captive Caucus, Work With Green Party
• Lynch Fires Back At Progressive Democrats Call for Mattiello’s Replacement
• Top House Progressive Democrat Calls on Legislature to Get to Back to Work
• Progressive Democrats Call for Mattiello to “Get Back to Work”
• House Approves Controversial RI Budget Despite Progressives, Enviro, and Taxpayer Group Opposition
• Riley: Shouldn’t Progressives Care About Intergenerational Equity in RI?
• Leading Progressive Democrat Unloads on Raimondo’s “Corrupt Right-Wing Machine”
• RI Progressive Dems Blast Budget, Urge Assembly Dems to Vote No
• Where is Regunberg on RI Progressive Democrats’ Opposition to Budget? UPDATED
• Newport Dem Senate Primary Goes to Progressive Euer, Who Faces GOP’s Smith in August
• Mike Smith Announces Run for Senate District 13 - Paiva Weed’s Former Seat
• Fecteau: The Progressive Democrats’ Bubble
• Progressive Dems’ Bell Questions Raimondo’s Failure to Report In-Kind Contribution
• Top RI Progressives Blast Raimondo for Choice of DNC Chair and Corporate Subsidies
• RI Progressives Call Out Whitehouse’s “Hypocrisy” on Vote for Trump CIA Pick
• Elorza’s Stance on Immigration Called “Lip Service” by Progressive Labor Leader
• Moore: Will Mattiello Appease Progressives?
• Moore: Progressives Are Being Disingenuous
• Moore: RI Progressives “Major in the Minors”
• 2 RI Progressives Take on National Democratic Superdelegate Structure
• RI Progressive Dems Call on Clinton to Remove “Deeply Unpopular” Raimondo as Co-Chair
• Ethics Complaint Filed Against Rep. DeSimone by Progressive Dems
• Guest MINDSETTER™ Stewart: Local Progressives Aiming Gun at Own Foot, Will They Pull Trigger?
• Could RI Progressives & Trump Team Up to Cleanup Lead in Providence Water?
• Block Criticizes House GOP’s Budget Strategy — “Does Not Do this Effectively”
• Weiss: CBO Numbers Says GOP Health Plan Benefits Young, Healthy…Not Seniors
• GOP Charges Mattiello Upping His Own Budget 17%, Speaker Says Money is Being Carried Forward
• “Judge the Candidate, Not the Party” - Providence Ward 3 GOP Contender Lallier on LIVE
• Repairing, Reforming, and Eliminating Bad State Policies: Morgan on GOP Budget Priorities
• RI Progressive Democrats Call for Mattiello’s Resignation
• Weiss: GOP Health Care Proposal Pull at Last Moment
• Weiss: House GOP Leadership Puts its Health Care Proposal on Fast-Track
• GOP, RI Commerce, and Speaker Say Any Stadium Funding Will Have To Be Approved By RI Legislature
• Herb Weiss: GOP Trial Balloon Called “Trojan Horse”
• GOP Grande Dame of Newport Slocum’s Mansion for Sale
• Robert Whitcomb: GOP’s Healthcare Hell & State Police’s laughable 38 Studios ‘Investigation’
• UPDATED: Chair of Providence GOP Arrested for Child Molestation
• Two Top RI GOP Women Leaders Discuss Trump’s Address, Raimondo & More on GoLocal LIVE
• Cicilline Calls GOP’s Obamacare Replacement Bill a “Disaster”
• RI NOW Head Kislak Says New GOP Health Care Bill Will Hurt Women
• RI GOP Announces 2017 Hall of Fame Class
• Weiss: GOP Health Care Reform Moves to Senate
• GOP’s Bell Refuses to Provide Info on Spicer Event, Questions Arise About Host and Funding
• Unfair & Unrealistic Criticism of RI GOP Lawmakers: Guest Mindsetter™ Deckman
• RI GOP’s Spicer Event Canceled
• Weiss: GOP Senators Avoid Angry Constituents During July Recess
• GOP’s Morgan Exploring Run for Rhode Island Governor
• RI GOP Honoring Sean Spicer with $1,000 and Up Private Reception and Fundraiser

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.